Walking the Path of Stewardship

In my responsibilities as the Director of Operations, I am also the steward of the school’s budget for several categories including our facilities, mini farm, kitchen supplies, and so on. I often share that when we have the ability to choose a vendor, our money should go towards local businesses and practices that align with our values as much as possible. For example, if you’ve been to some of our school events when we serve coffee, chances are that you’ve sampled a delicious brew from Vigilante Coffee, a local coffee company that actively gives back to the community in various ways from supporting social justice initiatives, climate change, and even volunteering with the Anacostia Watershed Society.

Our guinea fowl and chickens deserve good food, bedding, and supplies, and for that need, we turn to The Feed Store in Glenn Dale, where a good conversation can always be had with the owner, Jennifer, and advice is freely shared with other local farmers. Before finding out about this hidden gem, we purchased most of our farm supplies from a larger corporation. Unfortunately, they recently decided to retract their commitment to DEI and environmental practices, so we decided to pursue other options that better reflect our values. Of course, there are other companies that we still utilize that we may not entirely share our values with, but if there is a reasonable alternative that is accessible, it is important to pursue it.

In addition to being conscientious and informed consumers, we're also committed to disrupting the waste cycle by preventing things that we own or purchase from going to the landfill. We are fortunate to have many individuals at our school who are experienced in various skills from sewing patches and dyeing fabrics to rejuvenate them to repairing furniture and other equipment to extend their lifespan. I am personally responsible for the school's furniture and equipment, and I often look to used sources for inspiration and purchasing.

I am a frequent visitor of Community Forklift, ReStore, Donation Nation, and Second Chance, and it always amazes me what is donated that could take on new life with minor repairs and restoration. Each of these stores have their own mission that supports communities dear to them, and if our financial contribution through purchasing and occasional material donations can support those hopes and dreams, I believe that it is our responsibility to do so.

It is a fine line to balance the new and the old and ethical consumption in a capitalist society while continuing to take care of our beautiful campus in meaningful ways. However, we must strive to walk the path of stewardship and demonstrate that we all have a responsibility to the planet we inherited from those before us. Our collective responsibility means that we should do our part to take care of what we can as we pass it forward to all of our children with the hope that we model what it means to care.